the.lost.world-第68部分

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he　moment　when　the　boulder　smashed　into　the　side　mirror；　tearing　it　away。　The　raptor　was　gone。
　　　　The　road　widened　a　little。　Thorne　had　more　room　to　maneuver　now。　He　felt　a　heavy　thump；　and　looked　up　to　see　the　canvas　top　sagging　above　his　head。　Claws　slashed　down　by　his　ear；　ripping　through　the　canvas。
　　　　He　swung　the　car　right；　then　left　again。　The　claws　pulled　out；　but　the　animal　was　still　up　there；　its　body　still　indenting　the　cloth。　Beside　him；　Levine　produced　a　big　hunting　knife；　and　thrust　it　upward　through　the　Cloth。　Immediately；　another　claw　raked　downward；　slashing　Levine's　hand。　He　yelled　in　pain；　dropping　the　knife。　Thorne　bent　over；　reaching　down　to　the　floor　for　it。
　　　　In　the　rearview　mirror；　he　saw　two　more　raptors　in　the　road　behind　him；　chasing　the　Jeep。　They　were　gaining　on　him；
　　　　But　the　road　was　broader　now；　and　he　accelerated。　The　raptor　on　the　roof　peered　over　the　top；　looking　in　through　the　broken　windshield。　Thorne　held　the　knife　in　his　fist　and　jabbed　it　straight　up　with　full　force；　again　and　again。　It　didn't　seem　to　make　any　difference。　As　the　road　curved；　he　jerked　the　wheel　right；　then　back；　the　whole　jeep　tilting；　and　the　raptor　on　the　roof　lost　its　grip　and　rolled　backward　off　the　top。　It　tore　most　of　the　canvas　roof　away　as　it　went。　The　animal　bounced　on　the　ground　and　hit　the　two　pursuing　raptors。　The　impact　knocked　all　three　over　the　side；　they　fell　snarling　down　the　cliff　face。
　　　　〃That　does　it！〃　Levine　shouted。
　　　　But　a　moment　later；　another　raptor　jumped　down　from　the　cliff　and　ran　forward；　only　a　few　feet　from　the　Jeep。
　　　　And　lightly；　almost　easily；　the　raptor　leapt　up　into　the　back　of　the　Jeep。

In；　the　passenger　seat；　Levine　stared。　The　raptor　was　fully　inside　the　Jeep；　its　head　low；　arms　up；　jaws　wide；　in　an　unmistakable　posture。　The　raptor　hissed　at　him。
　　　　Levine　thought；　It's　all　over。
　　　　He　was　shocked：　his　entire　body　broke　out　in　sweat；　be　felt　dizzy；　and　he　realized　in　a　single　instant　there　was　nothing　he　could　do；　that　he　was　moments　from　death。　The　creature　hissed　again；　snapping　its　jaws；　crouching　to　lunge　…　and　then　suddenly　white　foam　appeared　at　the　corners　of　its　mouth；　and　its　eyes　rolled　back。　Foam　bubbled　out　of　its　jaws。　It　began　to　twitch；　its　body　going　into　spasms。　It　fell　over　on　its　side　in　the　back　of　the　car。
　　　　　Behind　them　he　now　saw　Sarah　on　the　motorcycle；　and　Kelly　holding　the　rifle。　Thorne　slowed；　and　Sarah　pulled　alongside　them。　She　handed　the　key　to　Levine。
　　　　〃For　the　cage！〃　she　shouted。
　　　　Levine　took　it　numbly；　almost　dropped　it。　He　was　in　shock。　Moving　slowly。　Dumbly。　I　nearly　died；　he　thought。
　　　　〃Get　her　gun！〃　Thorne　said。
　　　　Levine　looked　off　to　the　left；　where　more　raptors　were　still　racing　along；　parallel　to　the　car。　He　counted　six；　but　there　were　probably　more。　He　tried　to　count　again；　his　mind　working　slowly　…
　　　　〃Get　the　damned　gun！〃
　　　　Levine　took　the　gun　from　Kelly；　feeling　the　cold　metal　of　the　barrel　in　his　hands。
　　　　But　now　the　car　sputtered；　the　engine　coughing；　dying；　then　coughing　again。　Jerking　forward。
　　　　〃What's　that？〃　he　said；　turning　to　Thorne。
　　　　〃Trouble；〃　Thorne　said。　〃We're　out　of　gas。〃

Thorne　popped　the　car　into　neutral；　and　it　rolled　forward；　losing　speed。
　　　　Ahead　was　a　slight　rise；　and　beyond　that；　across　a　curve；　he　could　see　the　road　sloped　down　again。　Sarah　was　on　the　motorcycle　behind　them；　shaking　her　head。
　　　　Thorne　realized　his　only　hope　was　to　make　it　over　the　rise。　He　said　to　Levine；　〃Unlock　the　cage。　Get　him　out　of　there。〃　Levine　was　suddenly　moving　quickly；　almost　panicky；　but　crawled　back；　and　got　the　key　in　the　lock。　The　cage　creaked　open。　He　helped　Arby　out。
　　　　Thorne　watched　the　speedometer　as　the　needle　fell。　They　were　going　twenty…five　miles　an　hour。。。then　twenty。。。then　fifteen。　The　raptors；　running　alongside；　began　to　move　closer；　sensing　the　car　was　in　trouble。
　　　　Fifteen　miles　an　hour。　Still　falling。
　　　　〃He's　out；〃　Levine　said；　from　the　back。　He　clanged　the　cage　shut。
　　　　〃Push　the　cage　off；〃　Thorne　said。　The　cage　rolled　off　the　back；　bouncing　down　the　hill。
　　　　Ten　miles　an　hour。
　　　　The　car　seemed　to　be　creeping。　And　then　they　were　over　the　rise；　moving　down　the　other　side；　gaining　speed　again。　Twelve　miles　an　hour。　Fifteen。　Twenty。　He　careened　around　the　curves；　trying　not　to　touch　the　brakes。
　　　　Levine　said；　〃We'll　never　make　it　to　the　trailer！〃　He　was　screaming　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　eyes　wide　with　fear。
　　　　〃I　know。〃　Thorne　could　see　the　trailer　off　to　the　left；　but　separated　from　them　by　a　gentle　rise　in　the　road。　They　could　not　get　there。　But　up　ahead　the　road　forked；　sloping　down　to　the　right；　toward　the　laboratory。　And　if　he　remembered　correctly；　that　road　was　all　downhill。
　　　　Thorne　turned　right；　away　from　the　trailer。

He　saw　the　big　roof　of　the　laboratory；　a　flat　expanse　in　the　moonlight。　He　followed　the　road　past　the　laboratory；　down　around　the　back；　toward　the　worker　village。　He　saw　the　manager's　house　to　the　right；　and　the　convenience　store；　with　the　gas　pumps　in　front。　Was　there　a　chance　they　might　still　have　gasoline？
　　　　〃Look！〃　Levine　said；　pointing　behind　them。　〃Look！　Look！〃　Thorne　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　raptors　were　dropping　back；　giving　up　the　chase。　In　the　vicinity　of　the　laboratory；　they　seemed　to　hesitate。
　　　　〃They're　not　following　us　any　more！〃　Levine　shouted。
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　Thorne　said。　〃But　where's　Sarah？〃
　　　　Behind　them；　Sarah's　motorcycle　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

Trailer

Sarah　Harding　twisted　the　handlebars；　and　the　motorcycle　shot　forward　over　the　low　rise　in　the　road　ahead。　She　crested　and　came　down　again；　heading　toward　the　trailer。　Behind　her；　four　raptors　snarled　in　pursuit。　She　accelerated；　trying　to　get　ahead　of　them；　to　gain　precious　yards。　Because　they　were　going　to　need　it。
　　　　She　leaned　back；　and　shouted　to　Kelly；　〃Okay！　This　has　to　be　fast！〃
　　　　〃What？〃　Kelly　shouted。
　　　　〃When　we　get　to　the　trailer；　you　jump　off　and　run　in。　Don't　wait　for　me。　Understand？〃
　　　　Kelly　nodded；　tensely。
　　　　〃Whatever　happens；　don't　wait　for　me！〃
　　　　〃Okay。〃
　　　　Harding　roared　up　to　the　trailer；　braked　hard。　The　bike　skidded　on　the　wet　grass；　banged　into　the　metal　siding。　But　Kelly　was　already　leaping　off；　scrambling　up　toward　the　door；　going　into　the　trailer。　Sarah　had　wanted　to　get　the　bike　inside；　but　she　saw　the　raptors　were　very　close；　too　close。　She　pushed　the　bike　toward　them　and　in　a　single　motion　stepped　up　and　threw　herself　through　the　trailer　door；　landing　on　her　back　on　the　floor；　She　twisted　her　body　around　and　kicked　the　door　shut　with　her　legs；　just　as　the　first　of　the　raptors　slammed　against　it。
　　　　Inside　the　dark　trailer；　she　held　the　door　shut　as　the　animals　pounded　it　repeatedly。　She　felt　for　a　lock　on　the　door；　but　couldn't　find　one。
　　　　〃Ian。　Does　this　door　lock？〃
　　　　She　heard　Malcolm's　voice；　dreamy　in　the　darkness。　〃Life　is　a　crystal；〃　he　said。
　　　　〃Ian。　Try　and　pay　attention。〃
　　　　Then　Kelly　was　alongside　her；　hands　moving　up　and　down。　The　raptors　thumped　against　the　door。　After　a　moment　she　said；　〃It's　down　here。　By　the　floor。〃　Harding　heard　a　metallic　click；　and　stepped　away。
　　　　Kelly　reached　out；　took　her　hand。　The　raptors　were　pounding　and　snarling　outside。　〃It'll　be　okay；〃　Harding　said　reassuringly。
　　　　She　went　over　to　Malcolm；　still　lying　on　the　bed。　The　raptors　snapped　and　lunged　at　the　window　near　his　head；　their　claws　raking　the　glass。　Malcolm　watched　them　calmly。　〃Noisy　bastards；　aren't　they？〃　By　his　side；　the　first…aid　kit　was　open；　a　syringe　on　the　cushion。　He　had　probably　injected　himself　again。
　　　　Through　the　windows；　the　animals　stopped　throwing　themselves　against　the　glass。　She　heard　the　sound　of　scraping　metal；　from　over　by　the　door；　and　then　saw　that　the　raptors　were　dragging　the　motorbike　away　from　the　trailer。　They　were　hopping　up　and　down　on　it　in　fairy。　It　wouldn't　be　long　before　they　punctured　the　tires。
　　　　〃Ian；〃　she　said。　〃We　have　to　do　this　fast。〃
　　　　〃I'm　in　no　rush；〃　he　said　calmly。
　　　　She　said；　〃What　kind　of　weapons　have　you　got　here？〃
　　　　〃Weapons。。。oh。。。I　don't　know。。。〃　He　sighed。　〃What　do　you　want　weapons　for？〃
　　　　〃Ian；　please。〃
　　　　〃You're　talking　so　fast；〃　he　said。　〃You　know；　Sarah；　you　really　ought　to　try　to　relax。〃

In　the　darkened　trailer；　Kell　was　frightened；　but　she　was　reassured　at　the　no…nonsense　way　Sarah　talked　about　weapons。　And　Kelly　was　beginning　to　see　that　Sarah　didn't　let　anything　stop　her；　she　just　went　and　did　it。　This　whole　attitude　of　not　letting　other　people　stop　you；　of　believing　that　you　could　do　what　you　wanted；　was　something　she　found　herself　imitating。
　　　　Kelly　listened　to　Dr。　Malcolm's　voice　and　knew　that　he　would　be　of　no　help。　He　was　on　drugs　and　he　didn't　care。　And　Sarah　didn't　know　her　way　around　the　trailer；　Kelly　did；　she　had　searched　the　trailer　earlier；　looking　for　food。　And　she　seemed　to　remember。。。
　　　　In　the　darkness；　she　pulled　open　the　drawers　quickly。　She　squinted；　trying　to　see。　She　was　sure　she　remembered　one　drawer；　low　down　had　contained　a　pack　marked　with　a　skull　and　crossbones。　That　pack　might　have　some　kind　of　weapons；　she　thought。
　　　　She　heard　Sarah　say；　〃Ian：　try　and　think。〃
　　　　And　she　heard　Dr。　Malcolm　say；　〃Oh；　I　have　been；　Sarah。　I've　had　the　most　wonde